Lee Roche

Football player infobox | playername = Lee Roche


fullname = Lee Paul Roche
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|10|28
height = height|ft=5|in=10
cityofbirth = Bolton
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Droylsden
clubnumber =
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1999-2003
2000-2001
2003-2005
2005-2007
2007-
clubs = Manchester United
→ Wrexham (loan)
Burnley
Wrexham
Droylsden
caps(goals) = 01 (0)
41 (0)
54 (2)
45 (1)
21 (0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 25/08/2008

Lee Paul Roche (born October 28, 1980) is an English professional football player currently playing for Droylsden. He mainly plays as a right sided full-back but can also play on the right of midfield.

Attended Mytham County Primary School and Little Lever Specialist Language College in his school years, where he was a keen member of the school football squad, lived his early years in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Roche started his career as a trainee at Manchester United but made only one substitute appearance for the first team. During his time with the 'Red Devils' the young full-back was loaned out to Wrexham for the 2000/01 season, and was a key member of the team for the entire season, playing in 41 of the 46 league games.

At the end of 2003 Roche was determined to be sub-standard to progress into the Manchester United first team and was released on a free transfer. Burnley were the team to take advantage of this situation with then manager Stan Ternent using his connections to the Old Trafford club to sign the promising youngster onto a two year deal.

In his first season, Roche wasn't a first team regular, despite scoring an outstanding 25-yard volley against Crystal Palace on his debut. Towards the end of the 2003/04 season though, he began to push the previous right back, Dean West out of the side. Unfortunately for Roche, Ternent's contract wasn't renewed and Steve Cotterill was appointed as the new manager at Turf Moor. Cotterill didn't rate Roche as highly as Ternent had done, and brought in Mike Duff from Cheltenham Town instead. Roche still featured in the team fairly regularly though, but out of position on the right side of midfield where he looked much less comfortable. Roche scored his only other Burnley goal in a famous 2-1 victory at Elland Road against Leeds United.

After his two year contract with Burnley expired, Roche returned to play for Wrexham in the summer of 2005. At the end of the 2006/7 season Roche was released by Wrexham after a disappointing season in which they just avoided relegation to the Football Conference.

External links

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